Hi you all! I just wanted to say thank you to ness345 who gave me the idea for part of this chap! Also I wanted to say that I'm going on a short vacation ;) but I promise to update as soon as possible when I'll get back!

CHAPTER 11: Follow your heart

Maeve took a seat and watched her reflection in the mirror sighing. She grabbed her brush and started combing her red hair. She had just dismissed her servants that had helped her to get ready for sleep and had prepared her dress for the feast planned from her parents for the following evening.

She thought back at the events of the day: after Duncan had left she had returned to the crew to talk to Sinbad only to find out that he had gone out for a ride. They hadn't seen him all day and she knew this wasn't a good sign: he had to be angry.

She felt confused and she had to admit that it was a new feeling for her: she had always been so sure of herself and her decisions and now she was at a loss of what to do.

A soft hand took the brush gently from her hand.

"Are you all right, sweetie?" Ashley asked while reassuming the combing. Maeve nodded quietly watching her mother's reflection in the mirror for a moment before closing her eyes, willing her mind to relax.

The older woman carried on her task. It was an old ritual for the two of them: when Maeve was a child and something was bothering her, Ashley used to go to her daughter's room and started combing her hair while they talked. And reopening her eyes Maeve almost expected to see a child version of herself staring back at her in the mirror.

Ashley spoke again, interrupting the sorceress' thoughts "Your uncle told me that Duncan came to visit you this morning!" she studied her daughter's face closely.

"Yes, he did!" Maeve's voice was soft.

"How did it go?" Ashley continued never stilling her movements.

The younger woman sighed again "He said that he still loves me" a sad smile appeared on her mother's face "and that he wants be back" and Ashley nodded a little "You should have seen it coming, honey! What are you planning to do?"

Maeve shook her head getting up and seating herself on the large bed "I really don't know, mom!" she whispered "I mean, I know that Duncan is a wonderful man and that he would surely make me happy. It's just that..."

Her mother chuckled gently and took a seat next to her "It's just that there is someone else too in your heart now, right?"

Maeve smiled a bit as her mother went on "You know, when Dermott teased you about Sinbad in front of me and your father for the first time I didn't give it much thought. I mean, your brother can be pretty… shall we say childish when he wants to!" they both giggled a little.

"But then" Ashley said "I watched him staring at you and I just knew!" she smiled "the look in his eyes…he was looking at you like you were the most precious thing in this word!" Maeve blushed slightly.

"What do I have to do, mom?" she asked and the woman took her daughter's hands in hers "You have to follow your heart, Maeve. They are two amazing men and they both love you deeply" she smiled warmly "your heart already knows, my dear! All you have to do is listen to it!"

She kissed Maeve's forehead lovingly "Get some sleep, sweetheart! Tomorrow is going to be a big day for you!" and she left the room leaving the young woman alone with her thoughts.

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Sinbad opened the door of his bedroom and went in.

The chamber was immersed in darkness and only a few rays of moonlight were streaming through the open window, while a gentle breeze teased the net curtains.

He had spent the entire day in a small village not far away from the castle: he needed some time to think.

He laid on the bed sighing softly in contentment at its softness and put a hand on his eyes.

"You know, big brother" he said quietly to the dark around him "it's not very polite to sneak into people's room at this time of the night!"

Doubar chuckled emerging from the shadows and taking a seat in a chair in front of Sinbad.

"We were worried about you, little brother! We haven't seen you all day. You okay?" he asked.

The captain didn't respond immediately and when he did is voice was vacant "I just need some time alone…to calm down!" he removed his hand and lifted himself up a little watching his brother with unreadable eyes.

"Maeve was worried about you too!" Doubar tried and Sinbad looked down.

"Really?" the sailor's voice seemed uninterested but Doubar knew better and replied "When Duncan left she came back. She wanted to talk to you"

Sinbad's eyes stared back again at his brother as he snorted "Probably she wanted to invite me at her and Mister Blondie's wedding!" and he gritted his teeth at the thought, his anger raising.

Something in Doubar snapped and he got up, almost angrily, and walked right in front of the young man, pointing a finger at him in a lecture way "Now, hear me out, you stubborn fool! You can't run away everytime you get pissed off! You're Sinbad the sailor, for goodness' sake! You love her than fight for her, damn it! Stop being such a proud idiot! If you let that spoiled daddy's boy get Maeve without fighting then I swear I'm going to beat you so hard you are never going to stand properly again!"

Sinbad grimaced a little, knowing full well that his big brother never broke his promises. Nonetheless he tried to make him understand "Doubar, I just…"

"NO! No stupid justifications this time, Sinbad" Doubar's voice had never been that firm before "Answer me, little brother, do you love her?"

It was Sinbad's turn to snap "Off course I love her! She's everything to me. I couldn't live without her!" he was almost yelling "Do you have the faintest idea of how I felt watching that bastard kissing her and roaming his filthy hands all over her? Go away was the only way I had not to kill him! And today all I could think about was how he touched her and how he kept calling her darling, I mean…darling! My Maeve! How dare that pathetic excuse of a man ever think that he can…."

Doubar just couldn't help himself: he started to laugh uncontrollably, holding his big belly.

Sinbad watched him threateningly "What now?"

The larger man wiped a tear from his left eye and grinned "Nothing, little brother! Just glad you're admitting your feelings at least!" he patted his shoulder "follow your heart, Sinbad! She loves you too. You just have to remind her!" and he left.

Sinbad smiled a little 'Yeah' He though 'she's definitely worth fighting for!"

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